This is a blog for processing my spiritual thoughts, values, beliefs and faith.
A summary of spiritual thoughts gathered from quiet reflections, sermons, sermonettes, readings or from interaction with other people.
Recent posts better reflect where I stand, as there are things published here from my past that I might no longer stand by today.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Demise and Rebirth of the Caribbean Challenge and the need for Caribbean Christian magazines

Yesterday while waiting for my doctor's appointment, I foraged for a magazine in the basket provided for something to read during the wait. I saw the Caribbean Challenge a magazine that I remembered the title, for during high school as a member of the Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship (ISCF), I used to sell that magazine, promote it and even purchased and read it. I was about to bypass that magazine, for something "more educational" when I realised that that was 1) the unchristian thing to do and, 2) that the other magazines were not educational but more gossip, entertainment and lifestyle magazines such as Ebony etc.

I pulled up the Caribbean Challenge and began browsing. From the Editor's note, I realised the news that the the Caribbean Challenge went out of business. Further, I discovered that this magazine was now being published by the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST).

This morning I searched for the Caribbean Challenge online and found this:

Jamaica’s Christian magazine, Caribbean Challenge is going out of business, reported the Jamaica Gleaner. The magazine, published by Christian Literature Crusade in Jamaica for more than 50 years, once had a circulation of 30,000 in the region. Eaton Facey, who served as its editor, told the Gleaner that it was “a painful decision” to shutter the magazine (Tainsay).

I also checked the Gleaner's site for the original story which I found. If you have the time, check Dawes.

The new magazine is greatly needed, but unfortunately seems like a promotional magazine or brochure for CGST. Nevertheless, I observed that even in this regard the magazine has sought to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life.

My concerns though as a trained Librarian were:

the absence of a publication date on the cover or elsewhere in the magazine.

the absence of publication information or even an editorial statement on how frequently it would be published and

opportunities for letters to the editors and for readers to write back

The points of concern are really technical in nature and based on best practice and knowledge in my field of study. My ability to see these issues really highlights my awareness of where G-d has led me. In my secular and vocational studies, G-d has given me the opportunity to know what makes a good publication for libraries and booksellers. In fact, my vocational and secular education pursuits are in line with my spiritually revealed purpose of literature evangelism (please pray into that purpose for me).

I do see a need for a Caribbean Christian magazine and specifically for the Caribbean Challenge:

to answer questions for people who are searching and those who seeking answers to theological questions. Such a magazine should provide answers that help people to end their search and find Christ, to better understand the Bible or be challenged to deepen their spirituality, spiritual knowledge, quality of life/living and walk with G-d.

to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life

to provide an opportunity to think about G-d and his will for humanity collectively and personally in a format that is graphic, modern and relevant to the information needs of the current generation

4 comments:

I read, loved and appreciated this magazine as a young woman, and do hope that it can be revived. The world is hungry for good reading. Millions of books do abound, but it's like the case of water, water everywhere and nothing to drink. Many of the books do not satisfy, nor do they inspire Christlikeness.

The Caribbean Challenge was one of the magazines that I read as a young woman growing up in Belize. I especially like the section where the penpal column was situated.I sent in my name and address,for over a hundred responses from people all over the Caribbean.I chose a young man from Trinidad and a young lady from Jamaica whom I corresponded for years. Finially after 31yrs we will meet for the first time in Belize the 31st August where she will stop for one day on a cruise she's on.

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About Me

I am from Kingston, Jamaica in the West Indies/Caribbean,where I did my
undergraduate and masters at the University of the West Indies, Mona
campus in Library & Information Studies. I possess also an interest in entrepreneurship, social media and recently artificial intelligent conversational/virtual agents.